“Vishal, is in the critical care unit… and he is almost dead,”
Kiran’s inconsolable sobs choked his voice. That call was from
Chengannur Jilla pracharak, Kiran, late in the night on the fateful
day, July 16. I had seen news flashes about a students’ clash at a
college campus, near Chengannur, but didn’t give much importance to
such skirmishes that are a regular affair during the opening days
of colleges. But I came to know about the details of that incident
only during the late night from Kiran. It was a planned attack on
ABVP workers by the Campus Front goons. Campus Front is the
students’ wing of the notorious Popular Front which is the re-
incarnation of SIMI a banned terrorist organization.

हिंदी में पढ़ें : विशाल अमर रहेगा!
Vishal Venugopal was the Nagar Samithi member of the ABVP and the
Nagar Shaareerik Sikshan Pramukh of the Sangh. He, along with the
colleagues, had been to the Christian College to oversee the new
comers’ welcome function organized by the college unit. Three or
four Campus Front workers were also there. Everything went on
smoothly till 11’o clock. Suddenly, a group of Muslim goons from
outside came to the college gate and started abusing ABVP and
Goddess Saraswathi. , Vishal and other workers tried to dissuade
them from disturbing the function. They didn’t know about the real
intentions of the intruders. All of a sudden, those goons from
outside, unleashed an attack on Parishad workers with daggers,
modern knives, and other lethal weapons. Vishal, Vishnu and
Sreejith were severely injured. Vishal, who was also seriously
injured, succumbed to death in the wee hours of 17th. Two other
workers are still in the intensive care unit.

This was not an isolated incident. So many such incidents had taken
place in the recent past, all of similar nature. Popular Front has
been planning to unleash terror in the state for a long time now,
and the particular fatal incident apart of their well thought out
war strategy.

In its usual well planned manner for it trains intensively, the
Popular Front had done away with its intended victim.
EThe other day, the Kerala state government has informed the
High Court that Popular Front, which has connections with SIMI, is
responsible for 27 homicides of RSS and CPM workers that happened
in the state. In a Taliban-model attack on July 4, 2010, the right
hand of Prof TJ Joseph was chopped off by activists of the Popular
Front and its political wing Social Democratic Party of India
(SDPI). The reason ? Joseph had allegedly responsible for setting
up a question for a test paper in which he had purportedly
blasphemed Prophet Muhammad. The NIA is looking into this case. The
PFI ‘ court ‘ had found him guilty and passed a sentence of
amputation.

Vishal was targeted : Vishal was a promising young worker of the
Sangh. In his village, he strengthened the Sangh work and started
new Sakhas in the near by villages too. He, through his incessant
contact and campaign, had been cautioning Hindus about the evil
designs of Islamic fundamentalists. He was instrumental in checking
several love jihad attempts in and around that area. Jihadis,
through several means, were trying to disturb the peace of village
life. Alluring Hindu youths through different means, to engage them
in anti- social activities like drug abuse and trafficking, is one
among that. Vishal, with the help of other villagers, used to
intervene and successfully defeat such attempts. He had been
courageously campaigning against the growing communal menace with
terrorist link, in campuses. These were reasons enough for
terrorists to target that young worker. A jihadi court sitting some
where had given the order to finish off this eye sore once and for
all and those ruthless killers executed the decree.

A dedicated soul : Vishal’s dedication and devotion to the great
cause of the Sangh ideology, was exemplary in the real sense of the
term. He lived, worked and even studied for the Sangh cause, and
through the Sangh for nation. He wanted to become a Pracharak as
early as possible. It seems, he was always in a hurry. That was why
he wanted to discontinue his +2 studies, even though he was a
brilliant student. However, the Sangh Adhikaris didn’t allow him to
do so. They quite naturally asked him to continue his studies and
secure at least a PG. He resolved to do so, but it was an uphill
task at that point of time, because only 45 days were remaining for
the exam. Vishal couldn’t wait for yet another year. So he studied
day and night for 45 days and completed all pending lessons and
came out with flying colures in the exam. Then he joined Konni
college for B.Sc. Electronics.

In search of Roots : Strange was his life history. Born in Saudi
Arabia and he conducted his preliminary studies in London. But his
tender heart was never reconciled to the materialistic life style
there. He devoted his free time over internet not to indulge in
modern fancies but to find out his Indian roots, culture, our
sacred language Sanskrit, and the Holy Scriptures. Young Vishal
took an oath to devout his life for the welfare of our culture and
heritage. He found out through his endless pursuits that RSS was
the one and only organization through which he could fulfill his
dreams. Hence, he requested his parents to allow him to go to
Bharat and live in their village so that he could study in a
congenial atmosphere and work for the nation through the Sangh. His
parents tried to dissuade him from his strange desire, but all in
vain. He was adamant and the loving parents at last acceded to his
wish.Thus he came to Bharat and started his second life for the
nation. Parents unable to bear his separation for a long time,
tried many a time to take him back to UK. With folded hands and
utmost respect he implored them to allow him to continue to live in
Bharat. His father, Venugopal , reminisces: “My son used to tell
his mother that he might not be in a position to serve us both
during our old age. That pained her a lot. When asked why he was
telling so, his answer was quiet unbelievable for us,” the bereaved
father tells. Vishal told that if great patriots like Bhagat
Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad and Swami Vivekananda had thought about
their families and lived for their families, would we have attained
freedom? His words and deeds were far beyond the range of a boy of
that age.

Once he came to know that one of his friends
was not able to join for higher studies due to lack of monetary
support. Vishal hadn’t to think for a second time to sell his new
motor bike and gave that money to that friend. Vishal was
supporting 4 students from poor backgrounds to help them pursue
their studies.
Renunciation is our national value : On July 15, he attended a
Gurupooja function at a nearby Sakha. Just 24 hours before that
fateful attack on him by the Jihadi terrorist, he was giving an
inspirational boudhik to students. He referred to renunciation as
the very natural characteristic of our nation. Hindus remember only
such people who had offered everything at the altar of the nation
the Mother. Swayamsevaks of that Shakha, who had heard that well-
structured Boudhik, still recall each and every word of that
Boudhik.

Thousands gathered at his funeral.His father and mother had flown
down from the UK. Emotions of uncontrollable grief and
irrepressible protest was discernible everywhere. After the
funeral, the parents heard a song sung by their elder son in a low
tone, Vipin, his elder brother, was standing near the pyre.
Naturally both the parents admonished him, “how come you sing a
song standing here in this condition. Is it not your brother who is
getting reduced to ashes on the pyre?” Vipin, who was wailing in
between, whimpered a reply: “This is not just another song, father.
These lines were taught to me by my dearest Vishal- Jeevitham ambe
nin poojaykkaay, Maranam devi nin mahimaykkaay-(This life, Oh
Mother, is for your sevice, and death, Oh Goddess, unto your
greatness).

This was his favorite Gana geetham hence I sang
it, and take it from me mother, I’m going to live according to the
spirit of that song hereafter.”
Two days later, one of the provincial Sangh workers visited the
house. While talking about Vishal, his father told in the
affirmative: “We were not Sangh sympathizers. Actually I was a
leftist. But now my son through his life and dedication has changed
my life as a whole. Everything that was his, according to him,
belonged to the nation, and we too are going to work for the Sangh
through the way shown by our dearest Vishal.

It brings forth a noble truth. No anti- national forces can douse
the true spirits kindled by the Sangh. Islamic terrorists have been
trying to create a fear psychosis among families through such
heinous crimes. But they have failed before the resolve of steel of
Vishal’s family members, coworkers and the peace loving
society.

Vishal is not gone. He lives among us through his brothers in the
Sangh. His message of selfless service to the Nation and the Hindu
society has grown stronger. His memory will be honored by our
selfless renunciation for the cause he chose to uphold. We will see
that in place of one Vishal, the Jihadis will have to face a
thousand.